Markos regained his consciousness and uttered one word mentally: Jessica!

The summoned faery's wings fluttered like a butterfly. She passed through the stone wall and appeared before the dungeon core. "Yes, master?"

How long did I sleep?

The helper touched her chin with a finger. "Maybe 30 hours?"

What! Why didn't you wake me?

"Master, your specific instruction was to wake you immediately if any creature invades your dungeon. Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet and I decided to let you sleep longer," she explained.

Biting back his retort, Markos summoned the UI to get an update:

Name: Markos Turloch

Class: Dungeon Core, Level 3

Experience: 4,630/6,000

Helper: Jessica, Dungeon Faery

Health: 600/800

Mana: 545/800

Domain: 4,600 square feet, 4,584 units available

Minions: 0/1

Keeper Abilities: Convert raw materials,

Create walls, Befriend creatures

Markos tried to scratch the back of his head but remembered that he no longer had limbs. While he was pleased that he had gained a level during his sleep, he was also disappointed at the fact that it took him 30 hours to do. There had to be a way to increase his dungeon level faster! Markos pushed the thought aside and focused on something else. Can you explain why I have 4,630 XP right now?

"Certainly," Jessica nodded. "When you fell asleep, you had 1,000 XP. You gained 30 XP from creating six square feet of wall, or 5 XP per unit of a wall created. You were asleep for 30 hours. That generated 1,800 each in mana and health. I used them to convert 3,600 units of raw materials and that resulted in 3,600 XP. And this was enough to advance to Level 3. Congratulations!" The faery applauded.

The dungeon core listened carefully to the explanation. Something she mentioned caught his attention! Hold on a moment. I get 5 XP for every square foot of wall I create?

"That's correct!" the helper nodded enthusiastically.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! The dungeon core started laughing like a maniac. This was fantastic! The former human smelled a cheat in the system! With great effort, Markos suppressed his laughter. Do I gain any experience from the deconstruction of a wall?

"Nope," Jessica shook her head.

No matter. Markos realized that by continuously converting his surroundings into raw materials and then building walls, he could easily gain experience and increase his level. The only bottleneck was his mana pool. Is there another source of energy I could use besides my health or mana to power my dungeon keeper abilities?

"Sure!" the faery nodded. "If there is a lava flow or geothermal heating vent or underground stream nearby, you could tap into it for energy in place of mana."

Is there anything like that nearby?

The helper closed her eyes for a moment and then reopened them. "Not that I could tell," Jessica replied with a soft shake of her head.

We've been digging our surroundings for the raw materials. Have we been digging laterally on the same plane?

"Yes," she nodded.

Okay, change of plans. Please dig vertically. Straight down. We may have better luck in finding a geothermal heat vent or a lava flow in that direction.

Jessica tilted her head. "Master, if we do that then we won't be able to reach the surface."

Markos took note of the fact that she was disagreeing with him for the first time. He decided that it was critical for the two of them to reach an agreement on this matter and thus, he took the time to explain his thinking to her. I understand that you want to reach the surface and explore the world above us. But I think it's dangerous to do so when I'm still defenseless right now. I can build walls and befriend some creatures. But against high-level adventurers, that won't be enough to protect me. Am I correct?

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The faery sighed. "Yes, master."

If I can tap into another energy source, then I could increase my level so that I could create a strong enough dungeon to protect myself. Until that occurs, it would be dangerous for me to connect to the surface.

"I suppose you're right, master." The dungeon helper tried to set aside her disagreement. She was anxious to reach the surface and discover new wonders. However, the master's decision was the right one. His safety was the top priority!

Thank you, Jessica.

***

It took a full ten days of digging but finally, the dungeon core tapped into a geothermal heat vent. The hot air began to fill the tunnels.

Markos expended 10 units of raw materials to create a thick wall over the vent as a stopper. YES! He screamed with delight when he was able to utilize the heat energy to create the wall.

"You did it, master!" Jessica danced in the air to celebrate the remarkable achievement.

The dungeon core checked his UI:

Name: Markos Turloch

Class: Dungeon Core, Level 9

Experience: 36,280/45,000

Helper: Jessica, Dungeon Faery

Health: 3,900/4,100

Mana: 3,845/4,100

Domain: 6,257 square feet, 36,584 units available

Minions: 0/4

Keeper Abilities: Convert raw materials,

Create walls, Befriend creatures,

Create traps, Create minions,

Analyze, Heal others,

Unchosen elemental affinity (Primary),

Unchosen elemental affinity (Secondary),

Hivemind (0/4)

Wow! I didn't realize I had gained so much experience from digging!

"Me neither," Jessica giggled. "We've been fortunate that we haven't encountered any Underdark races like the drow and the gray dwarves."

Markos filed the comment into a mental folder. He would have to revisit a discussion of the subterranean races in the near future. For now, he needed to focus on something more immediate. Jessica, I would like to move my dungeon core and have it rest on top of the geothermal heat vent. And then we'll build the dungeon levels on top of me. This way, my dungeon core will be extremely well protected.

"Aye-aye, master!" the faery saluted. She dissolved the rocks holding the dungeon core in place. Once the large diamond landed on the ground, she carefully dissolved the ground underneath the core to gently lower the invaluable relic. Then she tilted the dissolution of the remaining rocks so that the dungeon core will slide onto the wall which was serving as a cap over the heat vent.

Markos watched patiently until she finished this task. Nicely done! Now, please form a chamber to surround me.

The helper quickly carried out his order. Tapping into the vent for energy for the first time, she created a dome that was ten feet thick on all sides and spent 34 units of raw material to make it. Jessica flew through the thick dome and fluttered in front of the dungeon core. "What next?"

Suddenly, a large worm burrowed into the chamber! It wiggled back and forth in the open space but made no move toward the exposed dungeon core. The worm was easily 10 feet long. It had a black, metallic hide that appeared to be impenetrable. The front end of the worm was a sharp point, perfect for drilling through rocks. Fine bristles lined the head. It opened its mouth, revealing several rows of teeth.

What's that?

"You can use the Analyze ability on it," Jessica replied while staring at the worm with great interest. It was her first encounter with a living creature and she was becoming more and more excited!

Markos stared at the worm and information appeared on a screen before him: "Analysis complete: Giant Nematode. Disposition: Curious. Befriendable? Yes." Should I try to befriend it?

"Try it," the helper encouraged him.

Here goes nothing. The dungeon core concentrated on befriending the giant worm. To his chagrin, the Befriend ability drained 1,000 mana! Markos immediately tapped into the heat vent beneath him to refill his mana pool.

The Giant Nematode stopped moving.

"Befriended: Giant Nematode, Level 6. +500 XP." YES!

Jessica clapped her hands. "What should we do with your new friend, master?"

Markos thought for a moment. She could stay here as my companion and bodyguard.

"She?" the faery asked.

Yes. My friend is female. She said she noticed my presence and was drawn to me.

"I see," Jessica nodded. A part of her felt uneasy at this revelation. As a dungeon helper, she had a direct connection with his mind. She saw how much he doted on her as a daughter. She worried that the worm would compete with the faery for his affection. Be that as it may, there was nothing that the jealous faery could do about it. "Even creatures can sense your greatness from afar!" Jessica proclaimed with false enthusiasm to hide her uneasiness with the appearance of his new friend.

But it's also dangerous if my dungeon core can be sensed from a distance.

"That's true," the helper agreed. "Since you're sitting on top of that vent right now, if anyone shows up and tries to take you, you can simply dissolve the cap and drop into the vent to escape," Jessica pointed out. "Think of it as your escape hatch," she joked.

True. But it would very difficult to retrieve my dungeon core because not many creatures could survive inside the heat vent and pull me out of it.

Jessica pointed at my companion. "She could."

Markos imagined the giant worm burrowing into the vent and retrieving his core with her teeth. Hopefully, she won't ever need to do that.